First Integrated Dielectric Antenna For Wireless Access Gateways From Pirelli



Pirelli Develops The First Dielectric Conformal Antenna For Wireless Communications

Milan, Paris-/October 11, 2006 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- Pirelli Broadband Solutions, the broadband access and photonics company of the Pirelli Group, announced that it will introduce the first, integrated dielectric antenna for wireless access gateways, set-top boxes and other customer premises equipment (CPE). The new antenna was developed by Pirelli Labs Material Innovation, the Group R&D center for new materials led by the CEO Enrico Albizzati.

Through patent-pending, dielectric conformal antenna technology using polymeric composite, Pirelli has developed a new class of antennas that provide superior performance to ceramic antennas and the same/or better coverage and throughput than external dipole antennas. Moreover, Pirelli?s new antenna delivers the added benefit of greater product design flexibility.

?Pirelli?s new integrated antenna technology will allow telecom operators and service providers to offer a wider range of products including new stylish devices that end consumers will welcome into their homes and offices,? said Corrado Rocca, senior vice president, Product Marketing and Development, Access Products, for Pirelli Broadband Solutions. ?With the availability of MIMO and 802.11n technologies where multiple antennas are required for data and video connectivity over different transmission frequencies, the timing of this solution could not have been better.?

At the core of the antenna are dielectric polymeric composites filled with dielectric ceramic powder, reducing fragility while facilitating low-cost manufacturing and processing when compared to ceramic antennas available on the market today. The new antenna is based on a low aspect-ratio which can reduce the overall height of the CPE device giving equipment manufacturers more creative leeway when it comes to the ?look and feel? of new broadband devices.


1. Pirelli?s dielectric antenna and a wide range of broadband access CPE will be on display at Broadband World Forum Europe in Paris from 10 -12 October, booth number 718.
2. A high-resolution photo is available upon request.
3. Pirelli executives will be chairing the following sessions A2 - Drivers for Converged IP-Broadcast Video Services ? taking place between 14:00?15:30 on Tuesday, 10 October; and E1 - Broadband Requirements for Delivering Next-Generation Video Services ? taking place between 16:30 ? 18:00 on Wednesday 11 October.

About Pirelli Broadband Solutions
Pirelli Broadband Solutions specializes in broadband access technology and photonics. The Access division provides a range of broadband CPE, including access gateways, set-top boxes, multiple handsets, and a remote management system. The Photonics division leverages nanotechnology and its use of tunable and pluggable solutions to deliver multi-wavelength components, modules and subsystems, including tunable lasers, GPON triplexers, an integrable tunable laser assembly, radio over fiber and a CWDM metro access system. In full year 2005, Pirelli Broadband Solutions posted revenues of 112 million euros (+78% compared to a year earlier).